Toddler keeps coming out of bed after bedtime - driving me mad!

[smallfurryfriends]

My 3 1/2 yo DD gets put to bed at 7pm. We have a bedtime routine running up to this. But pretty much every night she will keep coming out of her bedroom to find me with some sort of 'emergency' like she can't find one of her toys which is on her bed etc.

It drives me mad. Today I am exhausted and just want her to go to sleep. Does anyone else have this problem or had this problem? How do I deal with this/

Stair gate across her bedroom door and sheer perseverance in putting back to bed and not responding to them I'm afraid ! When dd did this I'd just nod and seem extremely bored and just kept putting her back again and again. If she needed a wee or whatever then obviously I'd do that and just put her back straight away and keep going... and going. Eventually they do get the hang of it.

Would a sticker chart work with her? I found the bribe of a sticker (the next morning) for going to bed nicely, really worked, but then ds will do most things for a sticker not sure why

I still say to DS2 (5) that if you don't stay in bed I will shut the door and turn the light out. A few times following though with that when he was about 3 means that the very words keep him in bed. It is about having a strategy that works with your child though. With DS1 it was a slow count down from 5 that got him to stay put

Watching with interest as we're just starting to have this problem with DS 2.4, put him in a big bed about 6 weeks ago and on the whole he's been good, but this week he constantly keeps getting out of bed and thinks its a big game.

First time: take them back and say "It's bedtime".

Second time: ditto and say "Bedtime"

Third and subsequent (and there will be many!): take them back and say nothing.

Duno if this will help at all but maybe theres something else that is botheting them? I remember being around this age and kept getting up because i 'couldnt sleep' but what was really stopping me sleep was the fact i could hear my mum and dad having sex :s and obviously too young to understand what was going on lol!

DS2.5 been Indian bed for four months, but recently started getting out and crying at top of landing behind stair gate. Any advice on what’s worked well? Thank you!

Sorry meant to type DS2.5 been in own big boy bed for four months, but…